Today Converse announces the limited-edition José Parlá for Converse (PRODUCT)RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoe launching on World AIDS Day – December 1, 2011. A painter, widely acclaimed in the art world, Parlá’s collaboration with Converse (PRODUCT)RED is designed to help provide awareness for the fight against AIDS in Africa and encourage consumers to become agents of change, turning art into power. A percentage of the net wholesale price of the shoe will go to The Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

Using the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe as a canvas, Parlá chose his painting “Ephemeral Pitches, and Notes, Rhythm and Phonetics” to grace the shoe’s upper. A striking work, the painting explores constant changes to urban lifestyle and was inspired by abstract noises, music, rhythms, languages and sounds of cities. Selected by Parlá in recognition of the change that is part of the mission of (RED), the painting’s themes also represent a nod to Parlá’s days of youth wearing Chuck Taylor All Star shoes to play basketball, dance and have fun.

Only 500 of the José Parlá for Converse (PRODUCT)RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoes will be available, beginning on World AIDS Day – December 1, 2011 at Converse First String retailers globally.